{"id":12514,"date":"2019-04-21T08:28:14","date_gmt":"2019-04-21T07:28:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ounews.co\/?p=12514"},"modified":"2019-04-21T08:28:14","modified_gmt":"2019-04-21T07:28:14","slug":"spotlight-on-ou-research-projects-at-50","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/around-ou\/spotlight-on-ou-research-projects-at-50\/","title":{"rendered":"Spotlight on OU Research Projects at 50"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>As The Open University celebrates its 50 anniversary, we look back at some of the research projects which have shaped the course of OU research over the last 50 years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">First ever landing on a comet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The arrival of <a aria-label=\"Professor Colin Pillinger  (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Colin_Pillinger\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Professor Colin Pillinger <\/a>(featured above) and his planetary science research group from Cambridge in 1983 &#8211; heralded the beginning of planetary sciences at the Open University and later involvement in many space missions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2014, OU Space Science academics led the development of the <a aria-label=\"Ptolemy instrument (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/research\/themes\/space\/instrument-development\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ptolemy instrument<\/a>, part of the ROSETTA space mission, which landed on Comet 67P\/Churyumov-Gerasimenko and will advance our understanding of the environment around a comet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ptolemy-small.png\" alt=\"Ptolemy instrument\" class=\"wp-image-12577\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ptolemy-small.png 400w, https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ptolemy-small-300x188.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><figcaption>Ptolemy instrument from the Philae Lander<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>ROSETTA has some similarities to <a aria-label=\"Mars Express Beagle 2 (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/science\/physical-science\/news\/beagle-2-lander-found-mars\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mars Express Beagle 2<\/a> led by Professor Pillinger in 2003, in that it involves both an orbiter and a lander, but also because both approaches lend themselves to real world applications: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Rosetta spectrometer expertise was used to develop a novel diagnostic test for tuberculosis;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li><li>A solution for air monitoring that will be used on board future UK submarines; <\/li><li>Establishing a UK capability for the first time and breaking a 30-year US monopoly; and <\/li><li>To develop a \u201csniffing\u201d technology for the world&#8217;s largest flavour and fragrance company, Givaudan. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Changes in computing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Computing has changed significantly since the OU began in 1969.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1981, The Open University released its first mass distribution of disk-based software, aimed at teacher education necessitated by the growing adoption of \u2018microcomputers\u2019 as they were then called.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today, computing and communications technologies are embedded into many aspects of daily life, from education and entertainment to health and wellbeing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Research in the OU\u2019s <a aria-label=\"School of Computing and Communications (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"http:\/\/www9.open.ac.uk\/mct-cc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">School of Computing and Communications<\/a>, and <a aria-label=\"Knowledge Media Institute (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"http:\/\/kmi.open.ac.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Knowledge Media Institute<\/a>, focusses on the use of technology to enhance human experience, addressing real problems that matter to a society where computing is increasingly ubiquitous. Examples are: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Leading on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.mksmart.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">MK:Smart <\/a>to use Milton Keynes as a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/research\/ref\/uoa-11\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">smart city model<\/a>. <\/li><li>Development of <a aria-label=\"novel haptic technologies  (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/research\/news\/ou-research-trial-wearable-technology-neurological-conditions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">novel haptic technologies <\/a>to help stroke patients to walk again<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Haptic Bracelets and Gait Rehabilitation after Stroke\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S4ZxN6H6XGk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The first <a aria-label=\"Animal-Computing Interaction (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/research\/news\/research-dogs-who-sniff-cancer-shown-buckingham-palace\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Animal-Computing Interaction<\/a> research facility<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/Medical-Detection-Dogs-at-Buckingham-Palace_Lo-Res-900x600.jpg\" alt=\"Medical Detection Dogs at Buckingham Palace\" class=\"wp-image-9241\"\/><figcaption>Medical Detection Dogs from the Animal-Computing Interaction research facility, meeting HRH Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Read more about OU <a aria-label=\"Research in the Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/research\/themes\/space\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Research in the Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">From depression to e-therapies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Health Studies Research Group, led by Professor Cathy Lloyd and Dr Mathijs Lucassen, includes ground-breaking work both nationally and globally in mental and physical health which informs curriculum and current practice. The Group works closely with researchers in <a aria-label=\"several sub-Saharan Africa countries (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"http:\/\/wels.open.ac.uk\/coin-dd\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">several sub-Saharan Africa countries<\/a>, tackling the problem of co-morbid diabetes and depression, and in New Zealand where it has been developing e-therapies for young people with poor mental health, and has just embarked on a <a aria-label=\"mental health project in Guyana (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/ARCLIGHT\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">mental health project in Guyana<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Understanding ageing as a social phenomenon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a aria-label=\"Centre for Ageing and Biographical Studies (CABS),  (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"http:\/\/wels.open.ac.uk\/research\/areas\/ageing-later-life-cabs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Centre for Ageing and Biographical Studies (CABS), <\/a>established by Professor Sheila Peace and colleagues, continues to thrive under the guiding hand of Dr Aravinda Guntupalli, and provides opportunities for interdisciplinary research both within and outside the OU as it stretches its understanding of ageing as a social phenomenon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Promoting an inclusive approach<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The pioneering <a aria-label=\"Social History of Learning Disabilities (SHLD) group (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/health-and-social-care\/research\/shld\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Social History of Learning Disabilities (SHLD) group<\/a>, led by Dr Liz Tilley, has been instrumental in advocating the vital contribution that people with learning disabilities make in order to promote an inclusive approach and the development of person-centred services. The SHLD group continues to inspire admiration, trust and respect both nationally and internationally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter aligncenter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Kenny is doing research about <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Diabetes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Diabetes<\/a> appointments with @lorna_rouse things like a nice receptionist easy letters and reminders are good <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/5b0YZHRYkC\">pic.twitter.com\/5b0YZHRYkC<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Opening Doors (@OpeningDoorsLD) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/OpeningDoorsLD\/status\/1021354184766042117?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 23, 2018<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Read more about OU <a aria-label=\"research in the Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/wels.open.ac.uk\/research\" target=\"_blank\">research in the Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\nFind out more about <a href=\"http:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/research\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">OU Research<\/a> on our dedicated research website. \n\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As The Open University celebrates its 50 anniversary, we look back at some of the research projects which have shaped the course of OU research over the last 50 years. First ever landing on a comet The arrival of Professor Colin Pillinger (featured above) and his planetary science research group from Cambridge in 1983 &#8211; [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":12528,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,6,14,16],"tags":[1525,1904,2115,2210,2403],"class_list":["post-12514","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-around-ou","category-education-languages-health","category-science-mct","category-space","tag-news-home","tag-research","tag-stem","tag-ou50","tag-wels"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12514","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12514"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12514\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12528"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12514"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12514"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12514"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}